Ohio State Breaks Record for Most Players Chosen in 1st 3 Rounds of NFL Draft

The Ohio State Buckeyes produced a historically loaded 2016 NFL draft class, setting a league record with 10 players selected in the first three rounds Thursday and Friday.

Chris Fallica of ESPN's College GameDay reported on the milestone. The record ninth selection came on the Houston Texans' pick of quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller at 85th overall. Defensive tackle Adolphus Washington preceded Miller at No. 80 to the Buffalo Bills, and tight end Nick Vannett was the last to go Friday at 94th overall to the Seattle Seahawks. 

Patrick Brown of the Times Free Press reported Ohio State's elite crop of talent matched the USC Trojans' 2008 draft class and the Tennessee Volunteers' 2000 class with seven players chosen in Rounds 1 and 2.

Versatile edge-rusher Joey Bosa kicked off the proceedings as the No. 3 overall pick to the San Diego Chargers on Thursday evening. Stud running back Ezekiel Elliott then went to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 overall.

Cornerback Eli Apple made it three Ohio State players within the first 10 picks when the New York Giants brought him aboard at No. 10.

Before the first round expired, two more Buckeyes came off the board, beginning with Taylor Decker at 16th overall to the Detroit Lions, while Darron Lee went 20th overall to the New York Jets. Lee is a playmaking linebacker who should plug into a formidable front seven in New York.

But Friday showed off the depth of a special OSU bunch that produced a national championship before leaving Columbus, Ohio, en masse.

Michael Thomas was the New Orleans Saints' choice to replace the franchise's all-time leading receiver, Marques Colston, at 47th overall as a big-bodied target on the outside. Finally, safety Vonn Bell joined Thomas in New Orleans after the Saints traded with the New England Patriots to move up and acquire him.

Thomas was pleased to see Bell remain his teammate:

And the huge total doesn't even count gifted pass-rusher Noah Spence, who began his career at Ohio State but was dismissed from the program because of off-field issues. Spence subsequently played for Eastern Kentucky last year and wound up going 39th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the draft.

CoachingSearch.com indicated the record for an entire draft class is 14, which Ohio State is certainly in striking distance of achieving with so many picks remaining. Other potential draftees include QB Cardale Jones, linebacker Joshua Perry, safety Tyvis Powell and wideout Jalin Marshall. 

Regardless of what happens for the remainder of the 2016 draft, the top representatives for the Buckeyes' class will have a chance to solidify their status among the all-time best by living up to their billing as they transition to the NFL.